Two national surveys (one administered to 18,129 students in 1973 and the other administered to 15,432 students in 1983) collected data concerning such indicators of the career development of junior and senior high school students as reactions to career guidance services and career planning involvement. Whereas 78 percent of the 11th graders would have liked help with career planning in 1973, only 71 percent desired such help in 1983. Sixty-six percent of the 11th graders responding in 1983 reported receiving "some" or "a lot of" help with career planning as opposed to only 50 percent 10 years earlier. Although significantly more of the 1983 respondents realized that persons do not tend to remain in one job for their entire working lives, more than half of the 8th and 11th graders polled in 1983 were under the misconception that the earlier individuals choose a career the better. The percentage of students aspiring to careers in the personal, social, and health occupations decreased from 31 percent in 1973 to 13 percent for 8th graders and from 27 percent to 14 percent for 11th graders. Although students are apparently receiving more help with career planning, fewer students were "fairly sure" of their first career choice in 1983 than in 1973. (Seven tables are appended to this report). (MN)